A-28. 



These results are not surprising when one views the 

 geographic extend of the survey and the variety of habitats 

 found within the study area. The shelf edge and upper slope 

 environment is fairly uniform consisting of a sandy substrate 

 with shell fragments and occasional coral rubble. On close 

 study of the depth distribution of the four major taxa in the 

 shallow samples, a slight emergence of peak densities with 

 increasing latitude is noted (Figure Dl) . The white sea pen 

 shows a slightly different depth distribution, when compared 

 to the other three taxa. It shows peak densities at 150-200 

 meters in the northern canyons and at 200-250 meters in the 

 southern canyons, while Cerianthus borealis has a peak 

 density at 150-200 meters in the northern canyons and between 

 250-300 meters in the southern canyons. Munida valida has 

 peak densities between 150-200 meters in both the northern 

 and southern canyons, and Cancer borealis peaks between 200- 

 250 meters in the northern canyons and 250-300 meters in the 

 southern canyons. Thus, the white sea pen is probably 

 responding to slightly different environmental parameters 

 when compared to the other three dominant species found in 

 these samples. Whether the slight pattern of emergence with 

 increasing latitude is in response to substrate availability 

 or a variety of other factors cannot be determined at this 

 time. 



The fauna of the middle zone (600-1600 m) is much more 

 complex. This zone, also, includes the greatest habitat 



